Process of making mineral absorbent preparations.



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED GEORGE SAUNDERS, OF ADELAIDE, SOUTH AUSTRALIA, AUSTRALIA.

PROCESS OF MAKING MINERAL ABSORBENT PREPARATIONS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 710,521, dated October'7, 1902.

Application filed June 7,1902. Serial No. 110,696. (No specimens.)

T0 (tZZ whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that I, ALFRED GEORGE SAUN- DEBS, engineer, a subject of HisBritannic Majesty King Edward the Seventh, residing at No. 48 Oarringtonstreet, Adelaide, in the State of South Australia, Commonwealth ofAustralia,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Processesof Making a Mineral Absorbent Preparation, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to an improved absorbent mineral preparation, thebasis of such preparation being carbonaceous clay, which when treated bythe process hereinafter specifled is capable of being applied to many ofthe useful arts and manufactures to take the place of more expensive orheavier components which have hitherto been in use.

The invention also relates to the process whereby the absorbent mineralpreparation is manufactured.

The carbonaceous clay which I prefer to use for purposes of my inventionis found on the sandy shores of northern coastal inlets in this Stateandis usually met with in layers of from three inches to'two feet inthickness and at a depth of from six inches to, say, three or four feetbelow the surface and may be readily distinguished by its bluish-grayappearance.

The process of treating this clay is as follows: The carbonaceous clayin its natural form is ground to a finely-divided state and allowed tosoak in tanks of water for about three days, so that all sandy grit andother hard impurities may settle to the bottom.

The fine carbonaceous clay which lies on the surface is then removed andplaced in vats, where it is boiled at a high temperature (approximatelyof 200) with caustic soda, the boiling operation occupying one and ahalf hours and the mixture being kept in a state of agitation duringthis part of the process. The mixture is then allowed to cool and settleand the caustic soda is drawn off, after which the residue is removed toanother vat and is thoroughly washed with pure water, which issubsequently drawn off. The material is then washed with a weak solutionof sulfuric acid, the sulfuric acid represent ing about one per cent.density. The composition is once more washed with fresh water, afterwhich it is placed on netting, canvas, or other fine-grained material,so that it may be thoroughly dried. WVhen this has been done, the cakesof the material are thoroughly ground and sifted through fine silk orother sifting material, so as to bring it to the consistency of Wheatenflour. In this condition it is ready for use in the arts andmanufactures.

IVithout attempting to enumerate the many purposes for which my improvedabsorbent mineral preparation can be used I will proceed to exemplify alimited number of applications.

In the manufacture of explosives, and particularly where nitroglycerinis used, it can be applied as one of the ingredients, being capable ofabsorbing fully one hundred per cent. of its own quantity, by weight, ofglycerin,

thus preventing what is known as sweat-' ing, and thereby minimizing thedanger of premature explosion.

The material when manufactured according to my specification is capableof being vulcanized, and as a substitute for vulcanite is suitable forrailway, electrical, and other purposes, and it may also be used inconjunction with and as a part of india-rubber preparations. It may alsobe embodied with other ingredients in the manufacture of soap, beinghighly absorbent and containing great cleansing properties.

The preparation is also capable of being mixed to a paste with water forthe purpose of forming the matrix or mold for stereotype in connectionwith printing, or it may be Worked up with other materials to be used asa substitute for cork in the manufacture of linoleum. I find bypractical experiment that when mixed with a small percentage of othermaterials, such as india-rubber and paper, it is exceedingly light andresilient and may be used as a substitute for india-rubber for variouspurposesas, for instance, in the manufacture of tennis-balls and in lieuof pneumatic tires for cycles and the like. It will therefore beunderstood from the wide range of manufactures to which this preparaclayand boiling the mixture at high tempera ture the mass being kept in astate of agitation during the process of boiling subsequently washingthe material with a Weak solution of sulfuric acid when cool againWashing and drying the resultant composition.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

ALFRED GEORGE SAUNDERS. Witnesses:

JOHN HERBERT OooKE, FREDERICK TEMPLER.

